LAHORE: Failing to get timely answers to the written questions from various government departments, put up by Punjab Assembly members, a committee of the house decides to drop the queries pertaining to the years 2019 and 2020, saying these were too old as ground reality has changed a lot since then.

Law Minister Raja Basharat told the house that the committee formed on the direction of the speaker met on Tuesday before the assembly session and decided that the questions put up during the years 2019 and 2020 would not be taken up. However, he added, if any mover of a query is determined to seek answer to any question submitted during these two years, he/she would have to submit the same afresh. The house would, however, take up the questions submitted during the 2021 and the ongoing year (2022), he said.

Later, the minister moved the Multan University of Sciences and Technology Bill 2022 and the Sahara University Bill 2022, which were passed by the house.

Raja Bahsarat told the house that of the bills passed earlier, the governor did not give his consent to four bills – the Aspire University Lahore Bill 2021, the Bahawalpur Metropolitan University Bill 2021, the Lahore City University Bill 2021, the Punjab Free & Compulsory Education (Amendment) Bill 2020.

He said these bills have been again passed by the house with a majority vote and will become law even without endorsement by the governor.

PPP MPA Syed Usman Mahmood moved a resolution to express sorrow at the tragedy of capsising of a boat at Machheka point in the river Indus. The resolution was adopted unanimously.

MPAs Shaheena Kareem, Shamim Aftab, Semabia Tahir and others moved a resolution against the exorbitant hike in the prices of petroleum products and electricity tariff. The house adopted the resolution with a majority vote.

Speaker Sibtain Khan put off proceedings of the house for Wednesday afternoon on completion of the agenda for the day.

Published in Dawn, September 14th, 2022